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Mini karaoke booths are catching on in China, tucked away in shopping malls, cinemas and even subway stations, state media reported.

The booths, usually equipped with an air conditioner, a couple of chairs and headsets, are similar to traditional karaoke bars, but in a smaller more intimate environment, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

At least 20,000 mini karaoke booths are now operating and the value of the market on the mainland will hit 3.18 billion yuan (US$470 million) this year, the report cited a research company as saying.

Users pay for the booths by scanning a QR code a two-dimensional bar code on their mobile phones.

Costs vary, with one booth in Beijing charging 58 yuan an hour, or payment can be by the time spent or the number of songs sung.

The charges were relatively expensive as 58 yuan could pay for three hours at some conventional karaoke bars, according to China News Service.